Last night we hosted a couple from Guatemala for dinner. We met him in 2011, right after we moved to Spain. He was here for a about six months, was single, and was learning the culture and serving in churches. He has now returned to Spain for two months with his wife to study the different ministry sites and to allow his wife to experience Spain as they pray about moving to Spain long term.
We laughed, shared, ate homemade pizza and chocolate chip pie, told our stories and heard theirs, and then all of a sudden looked at the time - and he proclaims "es casi el Martes." In other words, it is almost Tuesday (very near midnight). We were still at the dining room table!
Today, as the alarm went off I was very grateful to be here and realize that I didn't have to make it to 9:00 tonight before I can stop (after English clubs). It is perfectly acceptable to stop in the middle of the day for a siesta!
Ahh - I love the schedule of Spain and the slow time spent around the table. There is a cultural expectation of "sobremesa." Which means, over the table. My Spanish friend defined it as "time you spend surrounded by good friends at the same table or seat where you have had coffee, lunch, dinner or merienda with the single purpose to enjoy the company and the chat." Meals here are not just for getting your nutrition, but instead are for relationship building. Very rarely do people eat and run from the table. This is a custom we have come to love and will definitely miss when we are not here. I wonder if we can convince our friends and family in the states that lunch and dinner should last 2 hours?
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